eing teachers; many teachers as well as
farmers went considerable distances to attend.

The Kent County association did not collect any fees from its members,
the Teachers' Institute fund of the county being sufficient to provide
for the cost of lectures at the association meetings. Permission for
this use of the fund was obtained from the state superintendent of
public instruction. Some counties have a membership fee; at Hesperia,
the fee is 50 cents, and a membership ticket entitles its holder to a
reserved seat at all sessions. The Kent County association also
suggested a reading-course for its members.

The success of the work in Kent County was due primarily to the fact
that the educators and the farmers and their leaders are in especially
close sympathy. And right there is the vital element of success in this
work. The initiative must be taken by the educators, but the plan must
be thoroughly democratic, and teacher and farmer must be equally
recognized in all particulars. The results of the work in Kent County
were thus summarized by the commissioner of schools of the county:

To teachers, the series of meetings is a series of mid-year
institutes. Every argument in favor of institutes applies with all
its force to these associations. To farmers they afford a near-by
lecture course, accessible to all members of the family, and of as
high grade as those maintained in the larger villages. To the
schools, the value is in the general sentiment and interest
awakened. The final vote on any proposed school improvement is
taken at the annual school meeting, and the prevailing sentiment in
the neighborhood has everything to do with this vote. And not only
this, but the general interest of patrons may help and cheer both
teacher and pupils throughout the year. On the other hand,
indifference and neglect may freeze the life out of the most
promising school. There is no estimating the value to the schools
in this respect.

The Kent County association had a very simple constitution. It is
appended here for the benefit of any who may desire to begin this
beneficent work of endeavoring to draw more closely together rural
schools and country homes.

ARTICLE I.--NAME

This association shall be known as "The Kent County Teachers and
Patrons' Association."

ARTICLE II.--MEMBERSHIP

Any person may become a member of this a